Letter to the Editor: Loretta Jent
FREEDOM! Our ancestors fought for it, and this year our country celebrates it on our 250th Anniversary! We have much for which to be thankful! True, we are not perfect. That’s why we should try to be, and give, our best in return.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union has worked 152 of those 250 years to educate about the harm alcohol does to individuals as well as families in the United States.
Thankfully, more and more health organizations in our country are speaking up to educate about the toxic poison alcohol is on our bodies.
We are being advised to drink alcoholic beverages less, or not at all, because of the harm it does on all major organs in our body: Liver, Heart, Brain, Pancreas. It also damages the digestive system, kidneys, immune system, and increases cancer risk in the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast, and colon.
The National Institute of Health (nih.gov) reports that alcohol use causes more than 178,000 deaths per year.
Spring is an exciting time for new life and change!
Why not decide to throw off the bondage, or even the possibility of bondage, from alcoholic beverages?!
Perhaps you already know FREEDOM from alcohol. If not, why not choose to be FREE! Saying “No” to alcohol will not only make you healthier, but our nation will be healthier too!
National WCTU has new 2026 Youth Temperance Education flyers and posters to help educate others. Order yours at [email protected], or call (847)864-1396.
Submitted by
Mrs. Loreta Jent, Education Director,
National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union
U.S. Congressman Jerry Moran Newsletter
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Ad: What FSCC Offers
Looking for a college that gives you options? At Fort Scott Community College, students can choose from associate degrees in Arts, Science, Applied Science, and General Studies, along with a variety of certificates that lead straight to rewarding careers. Whether you’re interested in healthcare fields like Certified Medication Aide, Nurse Aide, EMT, Home Health Aide, Manicuring, or Phlebotomy, or want to take on a technical challenge with certificates in Ag Technology (John Deere), Construction, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Environmental Water Tech, Farm & Ranch Management, Harley-Davidson Technology, Heavy Equipment Operation, HVAC, Masonry, or Welding we’ve got you covered!
But college isn’t just about the classroom. FSCC offers plenty of ways to get involved through music and performance opportunities (band, choir, theater), student clubs and organizations (like Collegiate Farm Bureau, Phi Theta Kappa, SkillsUSA, STEAM Club, FSCC Media Team, and more), and even competitive judging teams in livestock and meat.
If athletics is more your thing, FSCC is home to intercollegiate sports for both men and women. Compete in basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, rodeo, track & field, or cross country, all while building friendships and representing the Greyhounds.
And the best part? We’re still growing. New programs, degrees, certifications, and athletic opportunities are on the horizon! There’s never been a better time to join FSCC!
Fort Scott Community College; where opportunity meets possibility.
Governor Kelly Vetoes Eight Bills
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KS Combats Sexual Extortion
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Freedom’s Frontier NHA grant awarded to The Gordon Parks Museum
The Gordon Parks Museum received $1,000 in grant funding from Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area. This award will help to support a project focused on enhancing visitor experience, accessibility, and engagement through expanded promotional materials, interactive elements, and interpretive resources.
The grant will fund the production of 4,000 rack cards promoting the Wayman Chapel A.M.E. Church Commemorative Park, helping visitors better understand its historical significance. Additional improvements include the purchase of heavy-duty metal easels (8–12 inches) for exhibit displays and four large “Museum Open/Welcome” feather-style flags to increase visibility and guide visitors to the museum.
“We are very honored to be selected as a recipient of the Freedom’s Frontier NHA grant,” said Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director Kirk Sharp. “We are excited to begin this project and further enhance the visitor experience both in our museum and during our events.”
The museum anticipates having the rack cards, easels, and welcome flags installed and available for visitors by May 29, 2026.
For more information about the Gordon Parks Museum, visit gordonparkscenter.org
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Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) is a federally funded nonprofit organization and affiliate of the National Park Service dedicated to building awareness of the struggle for freedom along the Missouri-Kansas border. Established by Congress in 2006, its nationally significant themes are the settlement of the frontier, the Missouri-Kansas Border War and Civil War, and the enduring struggle for freedom. These diverse, interwoven, and nationally important stories grew from a unique physical and cultural landscape. FFNHA inspires respect for multiple perspectives and empowers residents to preserve and share these stories. We achieve our goals through interpretation, preservation, conservation, and education for all residents and visitors.
KS Bill Expands Opportunities For Rural Attorneys
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From the Bleachers by Dr. Jack Welch
FROM THE BLEACHERS-758
BY DR. JACK WELCH
Opportunity Still Matters
There is something special about watching a man get a second chance. This past weekend, as the United Football League kicked off its spring schedule, you could feel it. The games were crisp. The effort was real. The hunger was undeniable.
These weren’t just games. These were opportunities. You saw players flying around the field with something to prove, not because they were already stars, but because they were chasing the chance to become one. That’s what makes this league special.
When opportunity meets preparation, special things happen. Austin Reed stepped in as a rookie quarterback and, in his very first game, set the UFL regular-season single-game passing record, throwing for 376 yards in a 36–17 victory. He completed 26 of 40 passes with three touchdowns and no interceptions, making the most of his moment from the start.
That kind of effort comes from knowing this opportunity may not come again. That’s what opportunity does. It reveals who you really are. Watching those games brought to mind junior college and NAIA athletics. In many ways, the UFL feels like junior college and NAIA football. It’s about giving someone a second chance. Maybe they were overlooked. Maybe they needed time to grow. Whatever the reason, junior college and NAIA have always said, “Come prove it.”
At the major college level, things have changed. With the transfer portal and NIL, many programs now build rosters like professional teams. Free agency has made its way to campus. While players cannot be blamed for taking advantage of opportunities, the system has shifted and, in my opinion, failed student-athletes.
Development has taken a back seat to acquisition. Loyalty has become temporary. Rosters turn over year to year. Graduation is not a consideration. That’s the reality.
That reality is why leagues like the UFL, and levels like junior college and NAIA matter more than ever. They remind us what the game is supposed to be about: opportunity, growth, and earning your way. As a college athlete, these levels are still about receiving an education.
Not everyone starts as a five-star recruit. Some have to fight for it. Prove it. When they finally get their shot, something special shows up. That’s athletics at its purest form. From where I sit, that’s still worth watching.
Thought for the Week, “Opportunity does not guarantee success, but without it, success is impossible.” Jack Welch
Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.
Legislative Update by KS Senator Caryn Tyson
April 3, 2026
2026 Session There were 237 bills introduced in the Senate and 507 in the House. Most of the bills didn’t get a hearing because there just wasn’t time. Since this session was compressed, even more than previous years, it was intense. Over 150 bills were sent to the Governor in the last week of session. So far, thirty-four of those were signed into law, three vetoed, and one became law without the Governor’s signature.
Nursing Instructors will only be required to have one degree higher than the students they are teaching. “Additional or more advanced credentials for faculty shall not be required by the board.” There is a shortage of healthcare providers, but how will lowering the requirements to be a teacher help? SB 344 passed 38 to 2. I voted no. The Governor let it become law without her signature.
Vetoed Bills so far this year include SB 244, requiring multi use showers, bathrooms, and other such facilities in public buildings be designated for use by only one sex; SB 368, enacting income tax deductions for participants of health care ministries; and HB 2635, an act to protect the ability of private pregnancy centers to provide life-affirming care. All three vetoes were overridden to become law. I voted for each override.
Moving or Disposing of Human Remains with the intent to conceal a death or crime is now explicitly a criminal offense as HB 2331 was signed into law. The original bill addressed unclaimed remains, allowing coroners to authorize burial after three years. I was able to offer an amendment on the Senate floor to also make it a crime to move or dispose of a body with the intent to conceal a death or crime. After Senators learned of the tragedy in Linn County, they unanimously supported adding this provision. The bill then went to conference committee, and following negotiations, it passed both chambers before being signed into law.
Vehicle Tags purchased at the County Treasurers office can be cumbersome and time-consuming in some counties. Most Treasurers have said they do not receive enough of this money to cover their costs, although there are billions collected that goes to fund other aspects of local government. CCR 325 creates a temporary group tasked with studying problems and recommending an updatedsystem. The task force report will be due January 2028. Meantime, a fee that is normally $5, will be allowed for the locals to increase to $10 for the next three years, until a new system can be implemented. These funds must be used only for vehicle-related staffing, equipment, and operations. County treasurers will also report back to the legislature on the increase in fees and how the money is being used. It passed the Senate 33 to 7. I voted yes as this has been a major issue in some counties and the process could be simplified for all Kansans. CCR 325 was sent to the Governor.
Chief’s Stadium in Kansas continues to move forward. There doesn’t appear to be any way to stop it. Especially after CCR 2466 establishes the Kansas Sports Facilities Authority, an 11-member board to oversee the development and operation of the new stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs. Most of the members are appointed by the Governor, Senate President, Speaker, Majority and Minority leaders. It doesn’t give me comfort that the appointees may not have experience in building a multi-billion-dollar facility. I didn’t vote for the STAR bond bill in 2024 that started this effort and I did not vote to continue it. If these STAR bonds projects were so helpful, why does Wyandotte have some of the highest property taxes? Maybe because these developments usually do not pay property taxes and sales tax goes to pay off the bonds for the project – can you say NASCAR? It will be the same for the Chiefs stadium.
All legislation can be found at www.KSLegislature.gov.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
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Shead Farm Homestead Festival – Explore and gather ideas from Shead Farm, a sustainable lifestyle farm where nutritious veggie powder is grown.
Saturday, May 16th, from 10 am to 5 pm at 2468 Cavalry RD, Garland, KS. Follow the event on Facebook.
FSCC Board of Trustees Meet on April 6
FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING
ELLIS FINE ARTS CENTER
APRIL 6, 2026 – 11:30 P.M.
PUBLIC AGENDA
1.0 CALL MEETING TO ORDER – CHAIR
2.0 FLAG SALUTE & INVOCATION
3.0 RESCIND APPROVAL OF RFP (ACTION)
4.0 DISCUSSION OF FRAME GRANT NEXT STEPS (POSSIBLE ACTION)
5.0 FLEET DISPOSAL (ACTION)
6.0 ATHLETIC TRAINER DISCUSSION (INFORMATION)
7.0 INSTITUTIONAL UPDATE (INFORMATION)
8.0 PERSONNEL
8.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (ACTION)
8.2 Exit Executive Session – Return to Open Session (INFORMATION)
8.3 Employment Matters of Nonelected Personnel (ACTION)
9.0 ADJOURN (ACTION)